Protectorate Organization and Daily Life
The Protectorate is a massive singular location boasting advanced technology and defensive infrastructure. The enduring success of the protectorate is owed to a strict and self-sacrificing culture wherein all citizens work to support the community and live in fear of threats outside the walls. A minority of individuals are elevated to militaristic or administrative roles, and only these individuals are entrusted with details of the Protectorate’s methods. Protectorate Assemblers include highly skilled Construction shapers, and are often especially capable with regards to Petrified essence.
History
The Protectorate was founded 80 years ago. To this day, citizens honor a figure known as “The Founder”, though details about this figure are shrouded in mystery. The doctrines of the late founder entail that they should remain unknown, so that The Protectorate can be a place upheld by community rather than idolatry of a singular figure. Nevertheless, statues stand to honor the founder. They are depicted as masculine, but with a blank face, typically in the act of laying brick or hammering nails.
The Protectorate marks their first contact with outsiders as taking place 40 years ago, notably prior to the Age of Discovery. These encounters gave rise to conflict, and a distrust of those outside the walls, but also demonstrated that life outside the walls is possible.
Organization
The Protectorate is managed by a couched bureaucracy divided into three major branches.
Assemblers include artisans and architects who act to further the infrastructure and industry of The Protectorate.
Sentinels defend the walls, keep the peace, and manage any interactions with the outside.
Citizens manage the labor force, personnel allocation, health, and liaise with the people to hear grievances and manage opinion.
Each branch is lead by a “First”, such as the “First Citizen” or “First Sentinel”. These three individuals form a council that convenes to manage matters concerning the Protectorate at large. High ranking individuals may be titled as “Second” or “Third”, and there may be several seconds and/or thirds at a given time. An indication of branch is followed by indication of function, and so the full title of an important individual may be Third Citizen Surgeon, or Third Sentinel Wallsman. The full title is used in place of the name, so “Samuel Rogers” may be “Sentinel Scout Rogers”.
Lifestyle
The Protectorate boasts a unique advantage in technology. Indoor plumbing and electricity are the norm, and they are capable of utilizing machined industry including steam-powered cotton mills and early 1900s era printing presses. Most members of the Protectorate work in this capacity, offering the fruits of their labor to the community.
The walls and streets of The Protectorate are laden with propaganda-like statements exalting the Sentinels, and asking that every Citizen do their part. These posted will often feature large stylized monsters confronted by lines of gunmen. Others feature caricatures of “the outsider”, often portrayed as a savage or devil, but generally with a round head, long pointed nose and thick monobrow.
The Protectorate does not have a large amount of food relative to its populace, so institutes strict rationing. The last two decades have seen the emergence of a secondary class of “citizen” that lives outside of the walls growing food which is traded to The Protectorate. These entrepreneurs face heavy damage when large creatures come to attack, many using bunkers and panic rooms to see to their personal safety. The most common foodstuff in the protectorate is a nutritive block or paste mostly construed of starch, nuts, and/or ham. Other common foods include cabbage and potato.
Though the Protectorate is capable of creating more sophisticated clothing than much of the region, local culture puts community ahead of individuality. Many citizens wear plain clothing or work clothing, with a penchant for light-blue collared shirts. Citizens filling more distinguished roles, such as the Communicator’s office or the Coordinator’s office, are more likely to wear business apparel or a button-down with vest. These citizens only leave the walls with very specific business, and always with escort. Sentinels focus on light infantry tactics, often using light armors in conjunction with guns, spears, shields and swords. Depending on a sentinel’s role, their garb may include camouflage or other wilderness gear. Sentinels manning the wall prefer long coats in blue, grey, or tan colors. Protectorate garb only seldomly features precious metals, and only in very small amounts.